Gantimpala Theaters restages a sinister ‘El Filibusterismo’
MANILA, Philippines - Capping Gantimpala Theater’s Four Classic is El Filibusterismo, written by Jomar Fleras, under the direction of Jose Jeffrey Camañag.
“The sequel to Noli Me Tangere offers a bleaker picture of bucolic San Diego and its many unfortunate residents. The many tragedies that happened during the last decades of the 19th century were all chronicled and immortalized in El Filibusterismo,” said director Camañag.
“As a play, Fleras highlighted important characters such as Crisostomo Ibarra, the reformist hero of the earlier novel, who comes back to the Philippines as the enigmatic stranger named Simoun, a rich jeweler driven by hatred and a fierce desire to avenge his sufferings, and rescue Maria Clara from the nunnery,” Camañag continued.
Major El Fili characters given life onstage are Roeder Camañag, the scheming and ruthless Don Simoun, Joe Gruta, Padre Florentino, the lustful priests, Ku Aquino as Padre Camorra and Billy Parjan as Padre Bernardo Salvi, Arkin Da Silva is Kabesang Tales, the rebel with a cause, Dante Balois is Tata Selo, the silent witness to his family’s misfortune, Alfred Urieta and Francis Matheu, alternately portraying Basilio and Kathy Arquelles, as Juli, the ill-fated lovers, the love triangle of RJ Jimenez as Isagani, Vera Capiral as Paulita Gomez and Morris Sevilla as Juanito Pelaez.
Providing support are Flerida Capiral as Doña Victorina, Lani Tapia as Hermana Penchang, Francis Cruz as Ben Zayb, Masanori Mentuda as Tano, JP Parmisano as Placido Penitente, Julius Empredo as Quiroga, Kate Weaver as Pepay and Raymond Talavera as Imuthis.
Assisting Camañag and Fleras to realize the bucolic town of San Diego are Andy Villareal (Lighting Designer), Joey de Guzman (Set Designer), Jesse Lucas (Music Designer), Nasser Lubay (Video Designer), Del Cayetano (Production Manager) and Glen Dacumos (Stage Manager).
Performances are slated on Nov. 9 and 10, (9 a.m., 12 noon and 3 p.m.), at AFP Theater, Camp Aguinaldo, EDSA, Quezon City; Nov. 16 and 17 (9 a.m., 12 noon, and 3 p.m.) at Star Theater, Star City, Pasay City and Nov. 23 and 24, (11 a.m. and 2 p.m.).
Gantimpala Theater’s El Filibusterismo is fully supported by the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), Dutchess Haven Nail Salon and Spa and Everbilena.
For tickets, call 998-5622 or like us at www.facebook.com/gantimpala
